Fastening device for end plate of a drawer

ABSTRACT

A fastening device for securing a drawer end plate, front or back, to metal or plastic sidewalls incorporates a tensioning device to force open split dowels held inside holes made in the interior surface of the drawer plate. The dowels thus spread firmly grip the walls of the hole and clamp the sidewall flanges to secure the plate to the sidewalls. Tensioning takes place by the rotation of an expanding member that has an oval cross sectional configuration with the larger diameter formed by the oval shape forcing open the split dowels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a furniture fitting for connecting parts of an article of furniture and more particularly to a fastening device for fastening a front or rear plate of a drawer to metal or plastic drawer sidewalls where the front plate may be of wooden material.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In many previously known front plate adjustments systems, the mechanism used was visible behind the front panel when the drawer was open. Moreover, the connection between the front panel and the associated fitting was not quickly removed but, on the contrary, was releasable only with rather difficult and tedious manipulation. The fittings usually included a holding member mounted on the front plate and a holding member mounted on the drawer or sidewall with the two members being connectable.

[0005] Improvements have been made in these mechanisms to enable a more rapid assembly of the drawer when the drawer front or rear plate is installed. More recent developments have involved the use of integrated concealed slides that are inserted into hollow chamber profiles on which adjustable front panels can be attached.

[0006] While progress has been made, there is still a need for more simplistic and expeditious assembly of the front and rear plates and greater concealment of the mechanism when the drawers are in the open condition. It is to these needs that the present invention is directed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] A primary objective of the present invention is to incorporate all of the advantages of prior art fastening devices and more and none of the disadvantages.

[0008] Another principle objective of the present invention to provide a rapid fastening of the front and rear plates especially on metal drawer sides.

[0009] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide such a fastening device with the capability of being horizontally and vertically adjusted.

[0010] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a fastening device of the type described that is unnoticed when the drawer is in the open condition.

[0011] The invention is a fastening device for fastening the end plates (front and rear) of the drawer to the drawer sidewalls utilizing expandable or split dowels to attach the device to the inside face of the end plate. The flange to connect with the end plate can be formed integrally from the sidewalls or fashioned separately and attached to the sidewalls. An expanding member is positioned within an expandable dowel the free end of which then extends through a aperture in the flange to a tensioning lever which is movably connected to the expanding member for movement between a release position and a tensioning position. The end of the expanding member positioned within the expandable dowel has a camming exterior surface operable to expand the dowel outward and clamp the flange and base member between the dowel and a capping member positioned on the inside surface of the end plate. Horizontal adjustment between the sidewalls and the end plate can be made by loosening the expanding members within the dowels and vertically by a camming device engaging a receiving sleeve positioned on a base member between other receiving sleeves where dowels are inserted into the end plate. A second embodiment utilizes a single dowel, expanding member and tensioning lever.

[0012] Thus there has been outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In that respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its arrangement of the components set forth in the following description and illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.

[0013] It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting in any respect. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of this development. It is important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent methods and products resulting therefrom that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The application is neither intended to define the invention, which is measured by its claims, nor to limit its scope in any way.

[0014] Thus, the objects of the invention set forth above, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are noted with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific results obtained by its use, reference should be made to the following detailed specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.

[0015] The drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. They illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with their description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drawer with a mounted front plate;

[0017]FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the device shown as A in FIG. 1;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective isolated view of the device shown in FIG. 2 removed from the drawer;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a perspective and sectional view of the fastening device of the present invention shown in Figure;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0021]FIG. 6 is a perspective and sectional view of the embodiment of the present shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022] Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, a drawer shown generally as 10 includes a front plate 12, a drawer bottom 14, a rear plate 16 and two drawer sidewalls 18. In the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, drawer sidewalls 18 are provided with flanges 22 protruding at right angles. Each flange 22 has two keyhole slots 24 and an aperture 26 situated approximately midway between keyhole slots 26. Split dowels 28 encompass expanding members 30 that are positioned through keyhole slots 26. Tensioning levers 32 are secured to ends 34 of the expanding members 30 and are movable from a released position to a tensioning position in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of front plate 12. A base member 36 is positioned between flange 22 and dowels 28.

[0023] A capping member 38 supports tensioning levers 32 in the manner shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When a lever 32 is moved to a tensioning position, the connected expanding member 30 rotates. Because each expanding member has an oval cross-sectional configuration, rotating it until the larger diameter engages and spreads the relevant split dowel 28 which tightens dowel 28 and held base 36 within the end plate interior surface hole to secure end plate 12 to sidewalls 18.

[0024] Additional front plate adjusting means shown generally as 40 includes a camming member 42 (a threaded screw in FIG. 4) which extends through capping member 38 and flange 22 into receiving sleeve 44 preferably formed, along with interior bore 29 of dowels 28, integrally with base member 36. Camming member 42 and receiving sleeve 44 are cooperatively designed to move front plate 12 with respect to sidewalls 18 upon movement (in this case rotation) of camming member 42 to provide for vertical adjustment.

[0025] The configuration of the present invention when installed with the drawer in the open position is best visualized in FIG. 3 where only tensioning levers 32 (one closed, one partially open) are seen. Attachment of drawer front plate 12 to sidewalls 18 is expeditiously and efficiently accomplished by the insertion of dowels 28 and receiving sleeve 44 usually carried by base 36 into holes provided in the inside surface of drawer front plate 12 and the subsequent attachment of the remaining part of the device by inserting expanding members 30 and camming member 42 into the openings provided therein.

[0026] In another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a simplified version of the first embodiment is disclosed which has a base member 48 supporting a dowel 50 placed against flange 52. A capping member 54 provides a surface for tensioning lever 56. Latching devices 58 can be separately applied to secure base member 48 to capping member 54 and grip, by that securement action, flange 52. Alternatively, latching members 58 and split dowel 50 can be integrally formed with base 48.

[0027] Affixing the drawer end plate in this embodiment is accomplished essentially in the same manner as in the first embodiment. An expanding member 60 is placed within dowel 50 and attached at the expanding member far end to tensioning lever 56. Expanding member 60 has an oval cross-section with a narrow dimension and a wide dimension. When tensioning lever 56 is rotated to the tensioning position, the thicker dimension of expanding member 60 is active and forces the walls of split dowel 50 open and into tight engagement with the interior of the aperture in the interior surface of the end plate being attached. Thus securement of the end plate to the sidewalls is attained through tightly fitting expanded split dowel 50 and latching members 58 engaging cooperative surfaces of capping member 54.

[0028] Although all of the embodiments of the furniture fitting of the present invention have been described and illustrated with respect to connecting a drawer sidewall to a drawer end plate, either front or rear, it is contemplated that the furniture fitting of the present invention equally could be employed for connecting other parts of an article of furniture. For example, it is contemplated that the furniture fitting of the present invention could be incorporated into a hinge mounting a door to an article of furniture. Further, it is contemplated that the furniture fitting of the present invention could be employed to connect two abutting walls of an article of furniture. Other modifications and uses will be apparent to one skilled in the art from a consideration of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fastening device for fastening the end plate of a drawer to a drawer side wall, the end plate having at least one dowel receiving hole therein, the device comprising: a flange having a first side directed toward the end plate, a second side directed away from the end plate and an expanding member receiving aperture therein; a member positioned between the end plate and the flange first side; a capping member positioned adjacent the flange second side; at least one expandable dowel positioned in the end plate hole; an expanding member having a first end positioned in the at least one expandable dowel and a second end extending from the dowel, the expanding member movable within the dowel between an expanding position and a release position, the dowel and expanding member positioned proximate the flange side and the expanding member second end extending through the expanding member receiving aperture in the flange; and at least one tensioning lever positioned at the capping member side and movably connected to the expanding member second end for movement between a released position and a tensioning position, the expanding member first end having a caming exterior surface operable to expand the dowel outwardly and clamp the flange and base member between the dowel and the capping member.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flange is formed integrally with the front end of a side wall.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1 having two dowels, two expanding member receiving apertures in the flange, and an expanding member in each dowel extending through an expanding member receiving aperture in the flange.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 3 having a tensioning lever connected to each expanding member.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 2 having two dowels, two expanding member receiving apertures in the flange, and an expanding member in each dowel extending through an expanding member receiving aperture in the flange.
 6. The device as claimed in claim 5 having a tensioning lever connected to each expanding member.
 7. The device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: drawer front adjusting means for selective unidirectional movement of the drawer front with respect to the drawer side.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the base member has receiving sleeves associated therewith and the drawer front adjusting means includes a camming member extending through the capping member and the flange and into a receiving sleeve and operable to move the drawer front with respect to the side wall upon movement of the camming member.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 8 wherein a base member receiving sleeve cooperatively receives an expanding member and extends into and is held within a dowel.
 10. The device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the base member has first and second ends, a receiving sleeve is positioned near each end, and the camming member receiving sleeve is positioned approximately midway between the base member first and second ends.
 11. The device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the base member and receiving sleeves are integrally formed.
 12. The device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the camming member is a rotationally movable threaded member and displaces the drawer front with respect to the side wall upon rotation.
 13. The device as claimed in claim 1 having a tensioning lever connected to the at least one expanding member.
 14. The device as claimed in claim 13 further comprising: drawer front adjusting means for selective unidirectional movement of the drawer front with respect to the drawer side.
 15. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the base member has one or more receiving sleeves associated therewith and the drawer front adjusting means includes a camming member extending through the capping member and the flange and into a receiving sleeve operable to move the drawer front with respect to the side wall upon movement of the camming member.
 16. The device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the base member receiving sleeve cooperatively receives the at least one expanding member and extends into and is held within the at least one dowel.
 17. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the expanding member first end is substantially oval in cross section wherein the at least one dowel is expanded when the thicker dimension is active and relaxed when the thinner dimension is active.
 18. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base member has first and second ends and each end has latching means securing the base member to the capping member and securing the flange therebetween.
 19. The device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the base member has first and second ends and each end has latching means securing the base member to the capping member and securing the flange therebetween.
 20. The device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the at least one expandable dowel and base member are integrally formed. 